The clarion., 1887-11-02

The CLARION has been furnished
with the following extract from a let
ter written by Senator George, which
gives some statements made to him by
Ex-President Davis, and which possesses
some public interest:
OF course, talking about the Mexican
war and the First Regiment, Col. Nc
Clung's name was mentioned. Mr.
Payne knew McClung well, and we had
a good deal of talk about him. Mr..
Davis spoke kindly of Col. McClung,
though, as you know, there was no
great friendship between them. We
spoke of his suicide, and his various
rencontres with others. This induced
me to ask Mr.. Davis if this story had
heard was true: That McClung, Just
before his death, had applied for com
mission in the United States Army, aad
that the failure to get it was notably the
cause of his suicide. Mr.. Davis, you
will remember, was then Secretary of
War. He replied that he had heard the
story before, but if Col. McClung ever
made such application, it was unknown
to him. was glad to hear this, for it
had been stated that Mr.. Davis would
not agree to this appointment, and
thereupon McClung, in his desperation,
took his own life.
He told me of another incident which
showed his willingness to hell McClung.
When Gen, Taylor was elected Pres
ident, McClung wanted mission to
some of the South American States, and
he called on Mr.. Davis to go with him
to the White House, and introduce him
to Gen. Taylor. Mr.. Davis expressed
his willingness to do so, but informed
McClung that Gen. Taylor knew him
well, and that he needed no introduc-
ton; but McClung thought it was bet
ter, and 50 Mr.. Davis went with Nc
Chung to see Gen. Taylor, and with the
result that McClung got what he wanted.
AT dinner the conversation was varied,
but equally interesting. | asked Mr..
Davis If he did not consider the Eng
lish the best soldiers in the world. he
promptly replied, "No, the First Missis-
sippi Regiment lin Mexico) were the
best" He agreed, however, that the
English were the best European soldiers
uniting the steadiness of the Russian
standing unmoved under deadly fire
with the dash and spring of the French
In charge. | then asked him If he
had used an expression | had heard at
tributed to him, that the bayonet was a
maiden weapon-never had been usec
for when two opposing bodies met
with bayonets, one always ran. he said
that was the sentiment expressed by
German Marshal Q forget his namel.
! then called his attention to anothe
sentiment / had heard attributed t.
him, viz: In noticing the fact tha
cavalry was always turned back by
hollow square of infantry, defended b,
liked bayonets, the reason usually glvei
being that horses could not be rushed OF
or over the bristling line of bayonets,
said that had heard he had said tina
the fault was not in the horses but il
the riders. In response, he told us
an incident which took place at din
ing in Canada, where only military mel
were present. The talk then was OF
the same subject-and some incidents o
charges of cavalry on hollow square
were mentioned, where the men had Gu
the infantry across the bayonets, wnlcn
10 an old dragoon, it was evident coui
only be done by turning the horses, 3
as to bring their right sides in front Q
the bayonet, thereby giving the cavalry
men the full sweep of their right arm
to resist the infantry and make the cut
with the sabre. In response to sue
custom made by one of the party, tns
the horses would not charge the Day
onets, he said, mo, they would not, 8
long as they were BRIDLED.
That | accepted as an affirmative al
swer to my question-it was the men
fault; not the fault of the horses, th'
such charges were not made.